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The free-steering axle follows the direction imposed by the tractor. The steering angle is +/- 15° depending on the tyre size. When driving on the road at more than 15 km/h or when reversing, a hydraulic device ensures a powerful lock and a perfect alignment of the rear axle with the front one, guaranteeing the safety of the tractor-trailer combination. A shock absorber ensures the stability of the free-steering axle and prevents excessive vibrations. A steering axle reduces the tyre wear significantly (less slippage) as well as the torsion on the whole vehicle in tight bends.
The self-steering axle is an important safety feature as it keeps your vehicle in line with the tractor at all times. The hydraulic ram on the steering axle is operated by a sensor cylinder connected to the tractor by means of a hitching rod with quick coupling (or a hydraulic ram depending on the model). This rod is anchored to the drawbar by means of an eye or ball joint and controls the steering hydraulic circuit. The system is balanced by compensated hydraulic rams that exert the same force in both directions. The circuit is equipped with a one-piece control unit including a pressure gauge, a nitrogen ball, an alignment valve and a calibration circuit. The advantage of the self-steering axle is not only its self-correcting feature, which allows the vehicle to leave the rut automatically, but above all its guidance both when driving forward and reversing. Unlike the free-steering axle, this system is autonomous and does not require any driver intervention when driving at high speed or reversing: the self-steering axle steers and controls at all times. In addition, it does not require a hydraulic connection to the tractor, nor a distributor. A steering axle reduces the tyre wear significantly (less slippage) as well as the torsion on the vehicle in tight bends. At JOSKIN, most triple-axle vehicles are equipped as standard with a double self-steering system (first and last axle) working on the same principle.
In some cases, it is worthwhile to replace the mechanical self-steering system with an electronically controlled system, which allows to manage different steering angles depending on the driving speed (less steering at high speed and more steering at low speed) and thus considerably increases the manoeuvrability and driving safety.
At JOSKIN, you can equip the coupling rod of the self-steering system with either an industrial hitch yoke (standard) or a knee-joint eyelet with a diameter of 50 mm (option), commonly called "K50". The "K50" option is usually chosen when the vehicle is already equipped with a "K80" knee-joint eyelet.